Leinster club IFC | Louth champions Hunterstown book place in semi-final

Huntestown Rovers booked their place in the AIB Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship semi-final when they defeated Park-Ratheniska by five points on a wet and miserable Stabannon this afternoon.

The Louth champions started brightly, playing against a strong wind as captain Ryan Burns opened the scoring for his side after four minutes with a close-range free.

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But Park-Ratheniska soon got to grips with things as James Connolly levelled before points from Kieran Delaney and Connolly again gave the Laois champions a lead of 0-3 to 0-1.

Burns tapped over another free before striking over a good effort to bring the sides level in a game that was was scrappy as both sides struggled in tough conditions.

Hunterstown gradually started to get on the front foot as defender Michéal Reid scored a point, before Park-Ratheniska hit back instantly through Noah Fingleton.

All-star nominee Burns stepped up again with the half drifting towards a draw and converted a free to give his side the narrowest of leads at the break.

Half time: Hunterstown Rovers 0-5 Park-Ratheniska 0-4

Park-Ratheniska struck first in the second half as Connolly levelled the match once more, but that would be as good as it got for them.

Hunterstown replied instantly through David Finn before Burns hit a brilliant two-pointer that pushed his team three clear and gave them a firm grip on the contest.

He then added another free, and Hunterstown thought they had scored a goal soon after when Reid fisted to the net, only for it to be ruled out for square ball.

Ryan Ward went on to clip over a neat point that was followed by Euan Woodlock being denied by a sliding save from Park-Ratheniska goalkeeper Cathal Tierney.

Things got worse for the Laois men when forward Kieran Delaney was sent off for an off-the-ball incident involving Marc Ward.

Connolly tapped over a free late on, but Hunterstown were never in trouble as Burns rounded off the scoring on the hour mark with a fine point to secure a five-point win.

Hunterstown now move on to face Tubberclair of Westmeath in the last four clash in two weeks, with home advantage once again.

Full time: Hunterstown Rovers 0-11 Park-Ratheniska 0-6

Hunterstown Rovers: Donovan Sheridan; Adam O'Reilly, Michéal Reid (0-1), Euan Woodlock; Cillian Taaffe, Patrick Taffee, Daithi Carroll; Marc Ward, Jason Monaghan; Shane Halpenny, Ryan Burns (c) Ryan Burns (0-8, 4f, 1 tpf), James Russell; David Finn (0-1), Ryan Ward (0-1), Ciarán Russell.

Subs: Tony McKenna on for Marc Ward (55'), Paul Carrie on for Ciarán Russell (57'), James Rogers on for Ryan Ward (60'), Colm Murphy on for Daithi Carroll (62').

Park-Ratheniska: Cathal Tierney; James Newell, Colm Brennan, Brendan Greene; Richard Hithcock (c), Rian McEntee, Seán Tierney; Padraig Dunne, Killian O'Connor; Noah Fingleton (0-1), Cian Nolan, Tom Fingleton; James Connolly (0-4, 3f), Brian Dunne, Kieran Delaney (0-1).

Subs: DJ Carroll on for Noah Finleton, Brian Fingleton on for Seán Tierney.

Referee: Seamus Farrelly (Dublin).